The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Oyo State has replaced its governorship candidate for the 2027 election in line with the provisions of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The party ratified the substitution of Michael Okunlade with Olusegun Agboola as its governorship candidate for the 2027 election at its substitution plenary held in Ibadan.
The SDP seized the opportunity of the event to declare that its ticket is not open to political negotiation, saying it is already intensifying efforts to challenge the main political parties for control of the state.
The party also charged the new standard-bearer to unite members, strengthen the party’s structures and take its message to all 33 Local Government areas of the state.
Speaking with journalists after his emergence, Agboola said the SDP was not in the race for political bargaining but was determined to build the political strength required to win the governorship election and introduce a new approach to governance in the state.
He noted that the development marked a fresh phase in the SDP’s preparations for the 2027 governorship contest, insisting that Oyo State could no longer continue with conventional approaches to governance in a rapidly changing world.
Agboola stated: “The last time we declared our intent, we said pedestrian thinking has to stop, and system-based thinking should now be the case. We should stop business as usual and bring new ideas to the table.”
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The SDP candidate said, if elected, his administration would prioritise the development of the people and establish systems capable of transforming the state’s human and material resources into sustainable economic opportunities.
He argued that Oyo State could no longer afford to remain a resource centre for others, stressing the need for policies that would empower residents to acquire relevant skills and available resources translatable into sustainable economic opportunities in order to contribute meaningfully to the state’s economic development.
Agboola dismissed suggestions that the SDP’s governorship ticket could become an instrument of political negotiation or bargaining ahead of the 2027 election.
He noted, “The SDP is here to stay and we intend to take over this state, especially as we see the crop of candidates in all the other parties, whose antecedents we all know. We are here to go to the State House. There is no negotiation on the table as far as we are concerned.”
Agboola further declared his readiness to publicly engage other governorship contenders in a debate on their policy proposals, signalling the SDP’s willingness to subject its ideas and proposed solutions to public scrutiny.
He revealed that his leadership would operate an open-door policy, urging members who are dissatisfied with developments within the party to return to the party, saying: “The door is open. Come back home. SDP is the home of true democrats, true progressives.”
Earlier, Okunlade, whose name was substituted on the party’s governorship ticket, congratulated Agboola and described his emergence as an important milestone for the SDP.
He commended party members for their maturity and peaceful conduct during the process, while appreciating INEC and security agencies for monitoring the exercise.
He warned against situations whereby candidates obtain the platform of a party to contest elections only to subsequently distance themselves from the party’s structures and membership, arguing that the SDP’s ability to secure victory in 2027 would depend on unity, commitment, and effective grassroots mobilisation.
Calling for respect for the outcome of the process, Okunlade urged members and aspirants to channel their grievances through appropriate democratic and legal avenues rather than allowing disagreements to weaken the party ahead of the 2027 election.
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